From C. King >>What I was objecting to is the delimitation of mtDNA clades as "species." mtDNA cannot be used to ascertain morphology or the ability to interbreed, since mtDNA does not code for morphology. Besides, the mtDNA data shows that Elaphe guttata is a clade, not a polyphyletic assemblage. So, as far as the available mtDNA data show, E. guttata is but a single wide ranging species. If other sorts of data (e.g. number of chromosomes) shows that there is a good likelihood that the populations currently grouped under E. guttata cannot be conspecific, then we may have to divide it up into separate different species.

[ Show Entire Thread ]